1. DISCUS PROGRESSION KENNETH BROWNER CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL kbrowner@ccs.k12.in.us

2. DISCUS TEACHING PROGRESSION Holding the Discus Palm flat with first knuckle over the edge Wrist straight with thumb applying slight pressure Index finger bisects discus (will vary due to size of hand) Wind-Up Right foot flat Keep discus away from your body Important to have a good release (stabilizes discus)

3. STANDING THROWS Left shoulder facing direction of the throw Initiate preliminary swings using the body not the arm (rhythm) FOOT PLACEMENT: HEEL TO TOE LONG LEFT ARM ACCELERATE THE RIGHT/TURN RIGHT KNEE BLOCK EFFICIENT DELIVERY

4. THE TRANSITION LOAD THE LEFT (pivot 90-120 degrees or 8:00-9:00) STAY IN RHYTHM/STAY VERTICAL KEEP LEFT SIDE LONG AND IN ALIGNMENT (left elbow over left knee) LEFT FOOT INITIATES RIGHT LEG SWEEP LED BY HEEL (Turk “inside of thigh”)

5. THE TURN RIGHT FOOT LANDS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 12:00 – 3:00 STAY TORQUED UP (discus back) CONCENTRATE ON LINEAR SPRINT TO MIDDLE BIG CIRCLE/LITTLE CIRCLE (Merv Kemp) Big circle with right leg – Little circle with right foot KNEE TO KNEE/STEP OVER CALF/SHOOT YOUR LEFT LEG! STAY WRAPPED (Turk) LEFT ARM AND DISCUS BACK GROUND THE LEFT FOOT QUICKLY (6 inches from center line)

6. THE DELIVERY FOCUS ON HIPS, LEGS AND FEET STAYING AHEAD OF THE DISCUS HIPS DRIVE AROUND THEN UP/ACCELERATE KEEP DISCUS ON HORIZONTAL PLANE (Away from body) BLOCK LEFT SIDE (left foot, leg & arm) GET VERTICAL/ON BALLS OF FEET/GROUND REACTION

7. THE REVERSE RESULT OF ROTATING FORCES GENERALLY NOT TAUGHT

8. DRILLS PHANTOM/SHADOW TURNS (Hands on Hips/Training ball) CLOCK DRILLS SOUTH AFRICAN NON-REVERSE STANDING THROW (strike and watch it hit the ground) WALKING TURNS BARBELL ON SHOULDERS BOWLING LINE TURNS CONE THROWS

9. COMMON FAULTS COCKED WRIST/THUMB UP TOO MANY PRELIMINARY SWINGS DROPPING SHOULDER INTO INITIAL TURN LEFT FOOT NEVER CROSSES AXIS OR GROUNDS IT LATE SCOOPS DISCUS/TOO CLOSE TO BODY